How to Uninstall GamesFriendly Search (Browser Hijacker/PUP)

What is GamesFriendly Search? And how does it function?

GamesFriendly Search is a browser extension for Google Chrome claiming to help users in looking for different kinds of online games. This may appeal to users especially the ones who are fond of playing games online. However, once installed it alters the settings of the Chrome browser without any permission from the users. As a result, the default new tab, default search engine, as well as the home page, is set to eanswers.com – because of this, security experts categorized this extension as a browser hijacker.
GamesFriendly Search is developed by friendlyappz.com and is almost similar to MusicFriendly Search and MoviesFriendly Search. All of these aforementioned extensions similar to GamesFriendly Search are also considered as browser hijackers. One of the common traits of these hijackers is that they drop browser helper objects to make it hard for users to remove GamesFriendly Search from their browsers.
If you are one of the users who had installed this extension, you must know that is capable of monitoring all your activities online – from your search queries, browsing history, IP address, websites you visit frequently, to what ads you always click and a whole lot more – it takes note of all these information and process it to produce more targeted ads so it can get more revenue. So if you value your privacy so much, it may not be worth letting this hijacker stay on your PC. What’s more is that some of the ads it displays could lead you to highly suspicious websites that may contain harmful threats.
How is GamesFriendly Search distributed online?
This browser extension has its own official website where it is distributed. Aside from that, it is also distributed in the Chrome Web Store but that does not necessarily mean that this extension can be trusted. Just because it is being distributed in the Chrome Web Store does not make it a reliable or trusted program. In addition, this hijacker is also found spreading through software bundles along with other unwanted programs. If you don’t remember ever installing this program, then it’s possible that it had sneaked its way into your PC when you install a free software package. You can avoid this kind of infiltration if you’re careful enough in installing freeware or shareware and if you use the Custom or Advanced setup.
To uninstall GamesFriendly Search from your PC successfully, follow each one of the steps below.
Step 1: Launch the Google Chrome browser and click the wrench icon. Afterwards, click on Tools from the drop-down menu and select Extensions.

Step 2: Under the Extensions tab, select GamesFriendly Search extension and other suspicious browser extensions related to it and then click on the Trash icon.

Step 3: Click on Remove button from the confirmation dialog box.

Step 4: Reset Google Chrome. To do that, click the three stripes icon located at the upper-right corner of your screen. And then select Settings.

Step 5: under Settings, look for Show advanced settings at the bottom of the page and click on it.

Step 6: Then click on the Reset browser settings button.

Step 7: After that, a dialog box pops up, click the Reset button to Reset Chrome.

Step 8: After you reset Chrome, enable the Phishing and Malware Protection in Chrome to prevent browser hijackers like GamesFriendly Search extension from infecting your computer again in the future. To do that, click Settings once again.

Step 9: Select the Show advanced settings again.

Step 10: Go to the Privacy section and check the Enable phishing and malware protection option.

Step 11: Restart Chrome and tap the Win + R keys to open Run and then type in appwiz.cpl to open Control Panel to uninstall any suspicious program related to the browser hijacker.
Step 12: Look for GamesFriendly Search under the list of installed programs. Once you’ve found it, uninstall it.

Step 13: Close the Control Panel.
Step 14: Tap the Win + E keys to open File Explorer. Navigate to the following directories and look for the hijacker’s installer like the software bundle it came with as well as other suspicious files and delete them.

%USERPROFILE%\Downloads
%USERPROFILE%\Desktop
%TEMP%

Step 15: Close the File Explorer and empty your Recycle Bin.
Follow the advanced steps below to completely get rid of GamesFriendly Search and any files it may have created in your computer upon its installation.
Perform a full system scan using SpyRemover Pro. To do so, follow these steps:

Turn on your computer. If it’s already on, you have to reboot
After that, the BIOS screen will be displayed, but if Windows pops up instead, reboot your computer and try again. Once you’re on the BIOS screen, repeat pressing F8, by doing so the Advanced Option shows up.

To navigate the Advanced Option use the arrow keys and select Safe Mode with Networking then hit
Windows will now load the SafeMode with Networking.
Press and hold both R key and Windows key.

If done correctly, the Windows Run Box will show up.
Type in explorer http://www.fixmypcfree.com/install/spyremoverpro

A single space must be in between explorer and http. Click OK.

A dialog box will be displayed by Internet Explorer. Click Run to begin downloading the program. The installation will start automatically once a download is done.